Supporting the Rights of Girls and Women through MHM in the East Asia and Pacific Region

Women and girls continue to be subjected to multiple challenges when it comes to menstrual hygiene management (MHM), due to things like taboos; norms and practices; a lack of access to accurate information; poor access to sanitary products and poor access to Water Sanitation and Hygiene facilities. The real life consequences of this, can affect a girl’s education, as well as some of her other rights, including her right to equality, health and dignity.

As such, the Education and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes of the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) jointly undertook a comprehensive overview and analysis of the experiences of girls and women, based on the current status of MHM programming and action across the region. This review not only focuses on the school context linked to WASH in Schools (WinS) programming, but also explores MHM in relation to out-of-school youth, at community level, in humanitarian contexts and in the workplace. This study makes a substantial contribution to better knowledge on MHM related issues.